RIGHT ON, SISTA'

Today I was going through my favorite blogs to get an idea for my post. It was amazing that two of my favorite ones hit on similar ideas. It was the idea of loving what they do. The first one was Soren's blog. I am so glad he loves what he is doing because everyone at Cedar Creek grows because of that love. The next one is A Teachers Life. I can't say enough about what she wrote.

First of all, I want to say that I am so proud to be part of the school district where I work. Last week we had a fantastic week of learning. They provided top notch training for all teachers in many, many areas. Then there was the message on Thursday. Dr. Robinson is so upbeat and positive. Her message inspired everyone.

Now for Jen's message. Her letter to all those people who have no idea what teachers do, what teachers feel for their kiddos, and for all those people who trash talk the schools, hits the mark in my opinion. I am not going to try to resay what she already did with passion. Check out Jen's blog. My blog today is just instructions to read her post. Again, I say: Right on, sista'!!!! I am so proud of you and all those teachers just like you that I am so blessed to be able to work along side!

SUMMERTIME FOR TEACHERS

As long as I have been a teacher, every summer I have heard--"It must be nice to get paid and not have to work for a whole summer." These non-teachers always think we are getting paid for our summers. In actuality we get paid, but it is for hours we've already worked--they just save it for the summer.

This afternoon, though, I saw another side to that comment. The idea that teachers don't work in the summer. Barb and I met with two teachers. Both of them were organizing their rooms for next year. One teacher had been reading and planning for a long time. Today we helped him move furniture out, rearrange others and even move his desk to a corner in the back of the room. What fun we had and what a great new look! Can't wait to see the finished project.

The other teacher was in the middle of reorganizing her books. They were all over the floor. Three of her kiddos are coming in next week to help put their library together--an advantage of looping.

She had the best idea of a "teacher-sized" desk in one corner with cubby holes all around it for all sorts of writerly stuff. That is their writer's corner!

So, the next time you hear someone say teachers are lucky because they get their summers off---send them to me and I'll show them what teachers REALLY do in the summer!

A Proud Teacher

Tonight when I got home from school I took Murphy for a quick walk, grabbed the mail and began to read. The newspaper I was reading is the local weekly paper from where I used to teach. I love reading all the latest happenings, gossip and other news.
The information that took my attention this time was pictures of all the seniors graduating in a few days. There were 42 pictured in the paper on the middle pages, crossing the entire spread. Several of them I had never seen before because they were exchange students. However, I counted nine that I squinted and could kind of recognize because they were my former second grade students.
For each one of these students I could still remember bits and pieces of stories that were bouncing around in my memory. I loved reading what their future plans were, where they were heading for college and what they planned on being when they graduated.
This class was one of the fun ones. They were so creative and ready to tackle anything. I remember Jennica's writing. I used one of her pieces to get me into the All Write!!! mentor program years ago. That is why I am where I am today. I don't think I ever told her that. I remember Scott for having a kitten that I eventually adopted. (I still have him. The cat, not Scott.) I remember stories and class trips and crazy things we all did together.
Watching students grow into young adults, finish high school and become worthwhile citizens, is something every teacher wishes for his/her class. I know just looking over those pictures, remembering the past and dreaming of their futures puts hope and inspiration into my life.
Good luck, Hamilton Graduates! May you continue to soar!